1.Nf3
d5
2.d4
Nf6
3.c4
e6
4.Nc3
dxc4
5.e4
Bb4
6.Bg5
h6
7.Bxf6
Qxf6
8.e5
[8.Bxc4
]
8...Qd8N
9.Qa4+
Nc6
10.Bxc4
Bd7
11.Qc2
Na5
A knight on the rim is dim, they say, but Black's aim is to achieve ...c5 and then drop the knight someplace nice like c4.
12.Bd3
c5
13.dxc5
Rc8
14.a3
Bxc5
15.0-0
[15.b4
isn't a worry here: 15...Be7
(15...Bb6
is good too, and now 16.bxa5
is probably even worse. 16...Bxa5
17.0-0
Rxc3-/+
) 16.bxa5?
Qxa5
17.Rc1
Bxa3-/+
]
15...0-0
16.Rad1
Be7
[16...Bb6
is possible too. On the game continuation 17.Qe2
Qe7
may give the kingside a little more support, though White has a slight advantage after 18.Qe4
g6
19.Qf4
(19.Qg4
doesn't make much sense, now that Bxg6 doesn't threaten anything, and Black is equal after 19...Bc6
20.Ne4
Bxe4
21.Qxe4
Rfd8
) 19...Kg7
20.Ne4
]
17.Qe2
Qc7
18.Qe4
g6
19.Qg4
Kg7
[19...Bc6
20.Bxg6
Bxf3
(20...fxg6??
21.Qxg6+
Kh8
22.Qxh6+
Kg8
23.Qg6+
Kh8
24.Rd4+-
) 21.Bxf7+
Kxf7
22.Qxf3+
Kg8
(22...Ke8?
23.Qh5+
Rf7
24.Nb5!
Qb6
25.Nd6+
Bxd6
26.exd6+-
) 23.Qg4+
Kh8
24.Qxe6
Bg5
might be survivable for Black, but it's hard to see any reason to go into this variation in the first place.]
20.Ne2
Black's position is looking dangerous. The problem is that the e5+e6 duo cuts the board into two halves. On the kingside, you'll find much of White's army: the queen, both knights, the e-pawn and (by influence, anyway) the bishop on d3. On the queenside, you'll find a collection of useless-looking Black pieces: the queen and rook, parked majestically on the vacated c-file, the stray knight on a5, and the bishop on d7.
20...Bc6
21.Nf4
Rg8
22.Nd4
[22.Nxe6+
fxe6
23.Qxg6+
Kf8
24.Qxh6+
Rg7
25.Nd4
Qxe5
26.Qh8+
Kf7
27.Bg6+!!
Kxg6
28.Qxc8+/-
is good for White too, but 27.Bg6+ is reasonably hard to find, and in any case Ivanchuk probably preferred to keep up the attack.]
22...Kh7
23.h4
Continuing to build, but maybe he should have gotten on with it. [23.Ndxe6
Qxe5
(23...fxe6
24.Qxe6
Bg5
25.Nxg6
Rce8
26.Qf5
Rg7
27.h4
Bd8
28.b4
Nb3
29.Ne7+
Kh8
30.Nxc6
bxc6
31.Bc4+-
) 24.b4
Nb3
25.Rfe1
Qf6
26.Qh3+/-
]
23...Qxe5
24.h5
[Trying to get the last piece into the game with 24.Rfe1
, counting on 24...Qxd4
25.Bxg6+
, doesn't work due to 25...Rxg6-+
]
24...Kh8!
25.Nxc6
Nxc6
26.hxg6
[26.Rfe1
gxh5
27.Qf3
Nd4!
28.Qe4
Qxe4
29.Bxe4
Rgd8-/+
]
26...f5
27.g7+
Rxg7
28.Ng6+
Kg8
A slightly fortunate escape for Kramnik, who holds on to win the tournament. [28...Kg8
29.Nxe5
fxg4=
] 1/2-1/2